Milpitas High School graduates Jeremiah Michael Finuliar and Isaac Mayorga Garcia will not have to worry about any college debt, after each earned a full-ride Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Scholarship with up to $200,000 for tuition and fees.

 

Finuliar and Garcia will attend Cal Poly Maritime Academy in the fall. CPMA, which is located on the Cal Poly Solano campus in Vallejo, is the only degree-granting maritime academy on the West Coast. With a Learn by Doing program that blends classroom learning, leadership training and global experiences, graduates are prepared to lead and excel in their careers from day one.

 

"Isaac and Jeremiah represent the very best of our school community. Earning the NROTC Scholarship is not just a recognition of their academic and leadership excellence, but a testament to their deep commitment to a cause greater than themselves,” said instructor James Whitney. “As they prepare to answer the call to service, we have no doubt they will lead with honor, courage, and integrity. We look forward to watching them make a profound impact as future leaders."

 

Finuliar, 17, who attended Weller Elementary and Thomas Russell Middle School prior to MHS,  spent three years in the high school’s NJROTC program, finishing up his senior year as a cadet Chief Petty Officer.

 

“Before the scholarship, I was unsure of exactly what I wanted to do in the future,” shared Finuliar, who plans to major in Industrial Engineering. “Earning this scholarship gave me a sense of direction of where I wanted to go with my career.”

 

Garcia, 18, who attended Zanker Elementary and Rancho Milpitas Middle School before MHS, finished up his fourth year with NRJOTC as Cadet Lieutenant Junior Grade.

 

“This scholarship has given me a path to gaining not only my college degree, but also serving a greater purpose by serving my country,” said Garcia, who will pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly Maritime, “because of its commitment to learning by doing.”

 

Both MHS Trojans became interested in NJROTC after hearing from friends in the program about the benefits and exciting opportunities. Finuliar considers his decision to join as a “life-changing experience” that has resulted in a college scholarship.

 

“It gave me the time and opportunity to grow as an individual and as a leader,” he added. “I had rather low confidence in myself prior to joining, but the program gave me opportunities to get used to talking and being in front of people. I attribute the person I am today to my experience in the program.”

 

“I was interested in participating in the fun activities that the program offered,” added Garcia. “Over the four years that I have been in the program, I have moved through many different leadership positions and developed myself through hands-on learning activities.”

 

Both cadets credited their 2026 instructors, Master Chief Whitney and Command Master Chief Patrick McCormick, for inspiring and allowing him to realize his potential as a leader with a career pathway. “They both pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me to strive to become the best person I can be,” Garcia explained. “Without their help, I would have never been able to secure an NROTC scholarship.”

 

As for future MHS students, Finulair said: “Always be ready to try new things and talk to new people. You never know what might happen or what path it might lead you down.”

 

Garcia added: “Find your Spark! Whether it is a sport or an academic pursuit, find something that truly makes you happy and pursue it. Keep trying new things until you find something that truly makes you happy.”